The Big Picture - Gender Equality vs Religious Practices

Guests - Rahul Easwar, Sabrimala Supreme Priest's Grandson,
Geeta Luthra, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court,
Urvashi Butalia, Co-founder of Kali for Women,
V Rajyalaxmi, Sociologist, Janki Devi Memorial College,

Anchor - Neelu Vyas

[divyadas]

Do not mock any panelist if you do not agree with their views. Neelu mocked rajlaxmi, I found it very unbecoming of her to do so. Had Frank been there he would have been civilised and let Rajlaxmi keep her views.
Neelu whatever your ideology is please don't push it by encouraging one speaker and discouraging the other because she didn't agree to your viewpoint.

[Amar-K]

Without Frank the 'BIG PICTURE' may become the 'SMALL PICTURE'

[vikasutsav]

I find Neelu, the anchor as a biased one. Laughing is disrespectable. She doesn't know anything about Sociology and how Sapiens Society evolved, and trying to act as if she knows everything. And definitely UPSC needs balanced point of view. Someone should have the guts to criticize!

[odinsdesk]

Urvashi Batalia never got a chance to speak on the whole show! Why was she invited then??

[asishb]

Stop the broadcasting of Big Picture till Frank arrives.

[vikasutsav]

Anchor doesn't let others speak except from the person from whom she is getting the comments as per her wish. its a request from RSTV not to use her again for Comparing, which I believe should be neutral!

[navneetsingh]

This is the first rajya sabha tv debate I have disliked. Nothing is to say beyond that

[db]

Worst debate ever on Rstv, , , very unprofessional and such a biased anchor, , , , Rstv is known for quality, unbiased and educational debates unlike private news channels.
Please don't bring biased and unprofessional anchors.

[rasamirani]

Frank sir ..is far better than this lady anchor. She didn't provide the chance to speak Raj lakshmi at the concluding time. And she also didn't provide the chance to the 3rd lady guest than why she was invited. I was waiting for her chance but she appeared at screen 2 times but she was not provided the chance to express her notion on this subject. And It was not necessary to mock on the views of any penalist..as we watch the importance of time when Frank sir oraganises the show.

[sanjeevkumar-pncu]

Dear Neelu Vyas mam,
Here i am writing some of my observations, which i felt during this debate missing, shall be applicable in next episode on wards.

(i) let the every panelists say their thoughts.
(ii) Don't bias towards any side.
(iii) Don't encourage any panelist to embarrass the other panelist.
(iv) Elaborate the debate as diverse as you can.(don't repeat same question again and again)

These all points easily follow-able . kindly consider it from next debate.

[Thepatriotpodcast]

1.see the hypocrisy of Modern feminist, they don't utter even a single word for the prohibition of a complete gender in their religious or worship place ...but no que raised....coz no interfere would be tolerated here!
2. on the region specific issues like this ...have panelist from that region having profound knowledge abt the n thomas had no info abt history, beliefs, reasons of practises n a single string on their conversational bow

be frank..Frank is much better ...she has no way to conduct, completely biased!

[viswajith]

People are just going gaga over the whole issue without knowing its crux. Lord Ayyappan, the diety of Sabarimala temple, is a naishthika brahmachari, or lifelong celibate. The temple was conceptualised with that ideal in mind. It is this seemingly unattainable ideal of lifelong celibacy that attracts devotees and makes the temple so popular. So admitting women runs contrary to the whole sankalpa or thought of the deity and the temple. A woman going there disregarding this is tantamount to her saying that she doesn't believe in that deity. Then why go ?

Temple entry for the lower castes is totally different because they were not allowed entry into any temple. Women are allowed to worship in most, if not all other, Hindu temples. Likewise, many temples are women-only. Who really cares ?
Also, its not because of the taboo of menstruation that women are denied entry, it is because they are in their reproductive ages. And the deity, being a celibate, has vowed to stay away from them.
This is just being blown out of proportion. There are so many other issues plaguing the status of women in society today. Much more serious ones.
And the argument about finding scientific rationale behind this discrimination is laughable. First rationalise religion. Then we'll talk.
Neelu Vyas appears too biased, eager to foister her opinion on everybody. Frankie boy, where are you ?

[cricketkedewane]

anchor's level was good for aajtk or abp not for Rajya Sabha TV 😑😒

[KH-iopm]

why the anchor is behaving like barkha dutt, please take a tuition from frank sir.and rstv pls change her.she does not know how to respect other view point.

[rahulgoyal]

i admire big picture veey much because of the way debate is conducted on it. But today's episode tilts me to admire 'Frank' rather than Big picture

[gouravmadaan]

Neelu why u did not gv third penalist chance to speak? It seems u were playing her role

[ramtheerthk]

Menstruation, apart from what the process is, actually is an indication that the woman is fertile. And the belief that Ayyappan is a celibate deity, is the mere reason for the Sabarimala temple to prohibit women of the reproductive age. Elaborating the discussion, these two points are to be considered.
1. The view of holding menstruating women to be impure has been brought by those who failed to recognize that such women are actually revered by the Vedas.
2. To point out that this particular pilgrimage site is discriminating women, is to not have the space to accommodate the views of the other side.

[vasukumar]

lack of quality in debate due absence of Frank. It seems anchor is biased. her gestures and body language expressed that she was supporting one panelist.

[tejaskhade]

i don't know why RSTV not allow Frank or Vishal Dahiya to conduct debate.... because considering reputed to the point previous debates current chairperson is unable to extract to the point balanced views from panelists in debate....

[nitishnair]

Brahmacharya is the virtue of celibacy when unmarried and fidelity when married. It represents a virtuous lifestyle that also includes simple living, meditation and other behaviors. Swami Ayyappan was a brahmachari, so he himself kept away from Women in their menstrual age. He even had a woman admirer who he had to turn down because of his beliefs, thus a temple was built in her name, Malikapurathamma devi, which should be visited before visiting Ayappa temple, there is also a mosque for Vavar swami who was Lord Ayyappans best friend, he was a Muslim. Google it. I too believe in women's rights and am a staunch supporter, but i feel this issue has been blown out of proportions by people who don't know the real reason behind the ancient beliefs.Down South, women aren't discriminated as much as in the North. We also have an Attukal bhagawathi temple where only women are allowed to perform a certain ritual called the aatukkal pongala. Do your research first.